Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-09
CHRISTIAN COOPERATION.


CHRISTIAN COOPERATION.
A Topic Discussed by the Evangelical
| Conference To-day.
| CLOSING DAY or THE coNFERHSCs-PAPERs BY REvs
DRs. WASHINGTON GLADDEN., r. s. sroRRs, JOSIAH
| STRONG, AND oTHEKs-THE NEED OF Co-oPzRA-
TIVE UNION AMONG PRESENTATIONS.
To-day the Christian conference entered upon
| new Held Of discussion. 1t was the closing day OF
the conference, which began its work by consider
| ing the per1s that threaten the country and the
opportunities for Christian work. The theme to-
day was cooperation in Christian work.
/ When the session was opened at the Congrega-
tional church at O'Clock this morning the church
| was well filled. long line OF distinguished
| divines stood beside President Dodge as the
| opening hymn was sung, and they sang out
quite Justify. leading the large congregation. Dr.
o. II. Tiffany, OF Philadelphia, formerly Of this
city, offered the opening prayer. It Is when
prayer Is offered that external evidence
is given OF the fact that the delegates represent
| many different denominations Some OF the men,
bers rise during prayer and stand with hands
folded either In front or behind them, and heads
/ inclined forward Others drop upon their knees,
bow their heads upon their seats, and utter fire.
quent Amens! Some rise and, placing one knee
upon the seat, half stand and half kneel Some
| sat bolt upright and mercy close their eyes.
| Others incline slightly forward and cover their
eyes with their hands Every attitude OF Christian
prayer Is represented in the conference.
COOPERATION IN CHRISTIAN WORK.
Mr.. Dodge, the president OF the alliance, after
the devotional exercises were over referred to the
theme OF the day as being the turning point OF
/ the whole conference-how they, as Christian
brothers, could cooperate that their aggressive
work shall be advanced In the whole land. He
nounced with regret that Rev. DIR. r. S. S;orrs, of
cussion with paper on .Seces s we Of Coopera
ton In Christian WORK." was detained at home by
| illness. DR.. Storrs' paper was read for him by
Il Rrpn klvn
question, the paper said, was how they were to
bring into effect the Christian resources OF the
tered resources and agencies into harmonious CO.
operation; The paper discussed at length the
TO MEET THE HOUR OF DANGER.
| Bishop Samuel Harris, DID, IL d., of Michigan,
was then introduced and spoke upon the same
| subject. He said It was proper for them to speak
| with courage and candor. II was felt that the
| need OF this hour or danger was cooperation
tan civilization Cooperation must take the
place OF competition among the evangelical
ates1sn Vi ine land. Ihey oeiieveo the sTeas
| Jesus OF Nazareth Tney believed that He pro-
posedthe establishment OF liberty under the pro-
| lection OF law. He sketched rapidly the advances
OF civilization made under Christian influences.
| Their attachment TO American. civilization was
more than mere patriotic preference IL was
| founded upon devotion. They were bound to
deiend IL against ali opposers not because 1t was
Ms, but because 1t was the Lords
Il
| the Keeping OF the Ang.O-Saxon race. Despite the
great immigration from foreign lands, the nation
| mad continued homogeneous. The people had de-
I.nded the Christian Sabbath. liberty OF conscience,
| and liberty OF decent, sober worship Yet this
civilization must be defended by man. He was no
| alarmist, but he was honest. They would be fOOS
| and blind II they did not see the threatened dan
gers, towards and traitors If they did not oppose
| them. These dangers were old but they were now
swelling TO vast proportions. They were beginning
TO combine, while Christian forces We're scattered.
| What was needed was cooperation, The kind Of
Il
| not political 1t would not do 10 have it go out
That they were here TO serve any party ENDS They
were here 10 discuss something Tar more profound
| tnan any political question. They were here to
the public conscience could be quckened, how the
national instinct may be revived.
| THE COMMON SCHOOLS.
| IL had passed into prOyerb that the perpetuity
| or the republic depended upon the intelligence
and the virtue Of the citizens One Institution was
far more essential TO good citizenship than any
thought, and that institution was imperlpd to-day
That Institution was the free common schools
1t was In the common schools he said, that ultra
montanisIn was being met and opposed to-day; in
| the pablo schools the children OF aliens were
einancipated. These schools were not Goddess yet,
SO long as Christian men and women are the
| leaders and the Children come from Christian
homes. Nevertheless, PrOtestantS by their divi-
slonS had left the common schools almost defense
| less, whiIe ultramOntaliSm was making its as
sauits Christians mus: cooperate to defend the
puUllc Schools SIN WIS tie arch enemy OF our
1
gospel. What the hour appealed Ter in trumpet
tones WAS religious cooperation. Fourteen years
ago. at the evangelical conference in New York 1.-The
| diviSiOnS among evangelical churcheSf were
defended. Then Taylor Lewis urged union, lnme-
dtate union, among bodies between whom Jae least
| differences existed AT that time. however the
| divisions OF Protestant Christendom were not re-
garded as evils. But now new spirit was abroad.
The time has come when, II this American civilza-
tlOn is TO be preserved, there must be cooperation.
tie described the evils that existed in many small
places where divi ed churches struggling for ex-
lstence were engaged In strife, not with sin, but
with one another. The same wIsteiul divisions, h
said existed in the large centerS OF population.
As the country grows the proetariat grows; The
herfted increased lie referred TO
THE FIERCE SPIRIT OF SOCIALISM
| brought from foreign landS-a reaction toward a
condition OF tribal savagery. They conspired not
,-iIIst wealth, out individual liberty. What is
the remedy? Not law. he said, but the gospel
TIER very charities lie said We're male harrow
exclusive sectariaBism. IL was In this that ultra
rnontanism made It's great appeal, by It's magnin-
| cent organized charities. he knew that these
| charities were not effeciual: that they did nor
| supply the wants they created He knew full well
| that, as a charitable system utramOntanism was
a failure. but as "A financial system It was a sue
eess-bui.dlng It's churches and schools and send
Ing It's jubilee gifts 10 foreign ponti. But ultra
/ mOntahis.a pretended TO care for the poor and
had "a magnificent system OF shown, its care.
while Professionalism was divided. cooperation,
reai cooperation, was. All that was necessary 10
| slry To preserve the honor OF Christ and
\ convert the world He has declared
| that the conversion OF the world and
| his own honor depended upon the one
| ness OF those who believed In Him. They dared
not claim that they have been In lie spirit OF
! CEriSt'S prayer. They knew that they had oeen
| miseraDiy divided anu that therefore the work OF
| evangelical Christianity had languished. The
1 church mourned for her wandering children, Tor
! eyen the disiDherlted were the children OF our
Common Father. The remedy was simple; he did
not say IL WAS easy. IL was cooperation and such
unity as would abolish these divisions and still
their competitions and s;rifes
| THE ''ANGEIICAL" ALLIANCE
When Bishop Harris concluded Mr.. Dodge said:
| "Wnen coming TO one or these services yesterday
in crowded car every one got out OF car at the
corner except one old lady. She turned and in
quired or the conductor Where all these peO-
pie goin9? he answered. why, they are going to
| The Angelical Alliance up there Wasn't there
| shallow OF truth In That II we have the spirit
prayed for and spoken OF by our dear brother who
has just sat down? Is 1t not possible angels are
| towering near and wondering whether we, Chrst's
children, are willing 10 rise 10 opportunities
and In the grand work 10 be done for Him are WILL
In 10 cooperate for Hi,n?"
| THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIVISION AND DIVERSITY
Rev. DIR. Washington GLADDEN., OF Columbus
Ohio, next spoke on the subject Of cooperation
DIR. GLADDEN. pointed out the difference, as he
| viewed It. between division and diversity He
deprecated hturgtcal uniformity a means OF
| combining the churches Nor did he seem TO favor
what he called sentimental union-the occasional
10 Ia toll hnv how Iov1N